People

Ramon and Sonia Rojas, along with 12 full-time and 40 part-time or seasonal employees.

Farmland

260 acres in Exeter, about 210 miles from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

Farm History

In the 1980s, Ramon’s family immigrated to the US to escape the political situation in his native country, El Salvador. After working a number of jobs, he met Frank Paredez, a third-generation farmer who showed him farming techniques and how to sell at farmers markets. After many years working with Frank, Ramon decided to make a go on his own and started Rojas Family Farms.

Tulare County farm advisors help Ramon decide what crops and techniques work best for the local conditions. For soil fertility, he uses a combination of cover crops, compost, manure, natural amendments, and synthetic fertilizers. He uses a variety of methods to combat pests and uses synthetic pesticides minimally. All fruit is picked as ripe as possible.

Certification

None

Soil

Sandy loam and clay soil. They use compost, cover crops, leave crop stubble, rotate crops, use synthetic and organic fertilizers, and apply both aged and raw manure to build up the soil.

Water Use

Water is pumped from on-site wells and canals that run from local dams that collect runoff from nearby hills. They irrigate using flood, furrow, and drip techniques.

Weed Control

Hand weeding, machine cultivation, and synthetic and organic herbicides.

Pest Management

The Rojas release beneficial insects, create habitat for beneficials, use pheremone disruptors, apply synthetic and organic pesticides, and use crop rotation to manage pests on the farm.